Douglas in Elgin

On 12th March, 1560-1, James Hay of Mayne, Alexander Guthrie in
Elgin and seven others burgesses of Elgyne were delated before
the Lords for convocation of the lieges to the number of eight
score on theeighth day of January last, and for setting upon Alexander
Robertson in 1'ittendreich and others tenants and servants to
Elizabeth Douglas, Lady of Pittendreich, and hurting and
wounding them to the great effusion of blood. They compeared not
and were denounced rebels.

In 1476, James Douglas, custumar of the burghs of Elgin and
Forres, charges himself with twenty pounds, being the custom of
salmon carried beyond the kingdom for two years past. It
isnoted in the "
Rolls " about this time (1501) that James Douglas of
Pittendreich "has had and exersit the office of Chaumerlanery of
oure lordschip of Murray this lang tyme bypast."

1477, November 22nd. The King granted to James of Douglas and
his heirs certain lands in the Lordship of Moray, he paying,
inter alia, the sum of 5 6s. 8d. yearly from the lands of
Pittendreich to a chaplain,of old foundation, on the Castle Hill of Elgyne.

1528, September 6th. The King granted to his brother James, Earl
of Moray, his heirs and assignees, the third part of the lands
of Duffus, the lands of Pettindreich, Caldcottis, Darcle and
Serestoun, and the house, tower, tenements and buildings within
the burgh of Elgin per- taining to the King by reason of the
forfeiture of George Douglas, brother of Archibald, formerly
Earl of Douglas.

1528, September 6th. The King granted.... 2s. of yearly rent
from the east land of William Douglas, senior, burgess of Elgin,
on the north side of said burgh ; Isabella Douglas,
relict of RobertPedder is mentioned as being a neighbour in the same charter, as
is James Douglas in Elgin

1546, August 1 7th. The Queen granted to Alexander, Lord Gordon
(son and heir apparent of George, Earl of Huntly), his heirs and
assignees, the land and tenement, with garden and tail in the
burgh ofElgin,
on the east side of the Queen's highway, between the croft
called Harvyisfield, the lands of Robert Innes and Elizabeth
Douglas, and the land called St. Ninian's land, pertaining to
the Queen by the death of James, Earl of Moray, her uncle,
bastard, without lawful heirs.

George Douglas was born about 1566 as the son
of Alexander Douglas, the Provost ofthe royal
burgh of Elgin in Moray. In 1588 he held the living of the
parish at Dallas(Presbytery of
Forres) just nine miles southwest of Elgin. He studied in
Edinburghand graduated
in 1599 under the regency of William Craig. He was admitted to
hisnext charge in
1601 in Cullen with Deskford also in the charge. w: 1st unknown
s: Alexander w: 2nd Jean Stewart s: George d: Elizabeth, Marie

ALEXANDER DUFF, adm. to Creich 1628 before 28th Nov. 1616;
dem. 13th Aug. 1623, and adm. here ; ratified his promise, 19th
April 1626, to marry Jean, daugh. of John Douglas, burgess of
Elgin, but in 1626 for failing to implement the same, his horse
was seized and he was ordered to be warded if found within
Elgin. [The Book of the Duffs, ii., 532 ; Reg. of Deeds, dl.,
374 ; Elgin Sess. Rec.~]

Abt May 1645 - Montrose carried his revenge still farther,
for, after burning the lands and houses of Campbell of Calder,
and plundering all his effects, as well as those of the earl of
Moray, who was then in England, he proceeded to Elgin, where, on
the twelfth of May, he burnt the houses of Walter Smith, John
Mill, John Douglas of Morristoun, and Alexander Douglas, some of
whom, with some of their sons, were concerned in James Gordon’s
murder.The houses of Robert Gibson, George Donaldson, and
George Sutherland, and other inhabitants of Elgin, from their
proximity to those put on , were seized upon by the flames, and
consumed. The houses of Hay, the provost, and Gawin Douglas were
also selected for destruction, but their safety was secured by
the payment of a sum of money.

Provosts of Elgin

1488 James Douglas
(father of David Douglas of Pittendreich)1521–1525 David Douglas of Pittendreich1529–1530 William Douglas1554-1557 Alexander Douglas1559-1561 Alexander Douglas1568-1569 Alexander Douglas1574-1575 Alexander Douglas1584-1585 James Douglas of Shutting Acres1586-1587 James Douglas1600-1601 James Douglas of Shutting Acres1609-1610 James Douglas
of Barflethills1623-1631 Gavin Douglas of Shutting Acres 1643-1645 Gavin Douglas of Morristoun
(or Murieston) (Possibly brother to Alexander Douglas, Bishop of
Moray, q.v.)1650-1653 John Douglas of
Morristoun1655-1658 John Douglas of Morristoun

In the book, 'When Scotland was Jewish: DNA Evidence, Archeology,
Analysis of Migrations ...' By Elizabeth Caldwell Hirschman, Donald
Neal Yates, it suggests that these early Douglas Provosts were
Jewish.